Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Missouri Senior out of $95,000

Dongyi Guo, a 28-year-old Chinese national, has admitted his involvement in a scheme that defrauded an elderly Missouri woman of $95,000. Guo entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Beginning in March, the 79-year-old victim was tricked by the conspirators using phone calls and electronic messages into thinking they were from the Social Security Office and her financial institutions. They told her that her accounts had been compromised and that she needed to pay up to protect her assets from theft. Guo then made the trip from New York City to St. Louis, where over the course of three days, he collected $95,000 in cash directly from the victim’s residence. Guo was arrested while attempting to get the victim to pay him an extra $15,000.

The FBI and Knox County Sheriff’s Office have also been involved in the case, which is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman. This shows how seriously authorities are taking crimes against elders. Guo’s conviction is scheduled on March 6, 2025, and he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The National Elder Fraud Hotline, which provides support in different languages Monday through Friday, is one of the sites that authorities encourage anyone who is or knows someone over 60 who is being defrauded. In addition to helping people report these crimes, the hotline, which is run by the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime, aims to improve the chances of getting lost money back. People are advised to contact 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) for assistance.

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